This comprehensive guide provides steps for successfully migrating from VMware to an alternative platform for running virtual machines.
In the past, Vmware was the dominant choice for running virtual machines (VMs) in a production setting. As a leader in the virtualization industry, Vmware was the top solution for companies looking to manage VMs.
Nowadays, there are numerous choices available for the deployment of virtual machines. One can opt for cloud-based solutions such as Amazon EC2 or Azure Virtual Machines. Alternatively, they can utilize open source technologies like KVM or VirtualBox for on-premise VMs. Another option is to use proprietary platforms like Hyper-V for virtualization. Or, they may choose to move away from traditional virtualization methods and switch to containers for hosting their applications.
There are numerous alternatives to Vmware currently in the market, and considering the uncertainty surrounding Vmware technology’s future, numerous companies are inquiring: What is the most effective approach to transitioning away from Vmware? How can one migrate from Vmware vSphere or Horizon, for example?
In order to address inquiries of this nature, we have created a comprehensive Vmware migration guide. It is important to note that the most suitable migration approach may differ depending on the specific requirements of each organization. However, we can offer a broad outline of the recommended migration methods and resources to consider when transitioning away from Vmware.
Reasons for Switching from Vmware
Before diving into the topic, let’s explore the factors that should be considered when deciding whether or not it is feasible to transfer VM-based tasks from a Vmware system to another option.
The use of Vmware is not inherently flawed. In fact, its technology continues to be a dependable and well-developed solution for hosting modern applications. While in certain cases, you may come across more cost-efficient or scalable alternatives to Vmware, the opposite may also hold true. This depends on the types of workloads being managed and their configuration.
There has been a significant shift in Vmware’s product management strategy and future plans, which has been influenced by the company’s recent acquisition by Broadcom in late 2023. This has resulted in some concerns among Vmware customers regarding potential alterations to product options, licensing agreements, and pricing structures for their main Vmware technology, as reported by some sources.
At the moment, it is uncertain what changes will occur, and it may be hasty to completely switch from Vmware solely due to concerns about potential actions by Broadcom. However, it is a prudent decision to research alternative options to Vmware and plan for migration in case it becomes evident in the future that Vmware is no longer suitable for your needs.
Taking into consideration both VMware and Broadcom, it should be acknowledged that alternatives to VMware such as EC2, Hyper-V, and KVM are constantly evolving as well. It cannot be guaranteed that the current features and pricing of these products will remain the same in the future or for any other products.
Despite this, there have been no significant mergers or acquisitions within the vendors of alternatives to Vmware in recent times. This suggests that Vmware’s platforms may potentially face more disruption in the near future compared to their competitors.
Exploring Alternatives to Vmware
Should you come to the conclusion that moving away from Vmware is the best decision for your company, the initial step in the migration procedure would be to choose a different platform.
The range of products and capabilities provided by Vmware includes load balancers, firewalls, and storage virtualization. However, exploring alternative options for each of these offerings from Vmware falls outside the scope of this guide.
Instead of Vmware’s primary product, which involves deploying virtual machines through platforms like vSphere, we will concentrate on exploring alternative options. When searching for an alternative to Vmware, organizations will likely prioritize finding a solution for scaling deployment of VMs.
There are three primary categories of alternatives to Vmware’s major VM offerings, including vSphere. Let’s examine each of them.
1. Hosting virtual machines on the cloud
To begin with, there exist services that are cloud-based and designed for the purpose of operating virtual machines, including:
- EC2 by Amazon
- Virtual Machines in Azure
- Compute Engine from Google
Alternative cloud providers offer a range of VM hosting services as well.
In general, these cloud services offer similar capabilities to Vmware, such as managing large-scale virtual machines. The main distinction between cloud-based and traditional Vmware environments is that the former involves running VMs on infrastructure owned by a third party. Despite being able to work with cloud-based hosting, Vmware is primarily used for other purposes.
The cost of running VMs in the cloud instead of Vmware may be higher due to the total cost of ownership, especially if you use the infrastructure for an extended period. However, the advantage is that you do not need to set up your own infrastructure, making the cloud a more straightforward option.
2. Virtualization Technologies in the Open Source Community
Another primary alternative to Vmware is utilizing an open source technology to operate virtual machines. Some popular choices within this category are:
- The Linux kernel includes KVM, a virtualization framework.
- Xen is another significant virtualization framework used for running VMs on Linux.
- VirtualBox is an open-source virtualization engine that works on multiple platforms.
One benefit of utilizing these choices is that they are typically available at no cost. However, a significant disadvantage is the absence of orchestration tools commonly found in Vmware, which may result in increased manual management tasks if transitioning to an open source platform. Additionally, it should be noted that certain solutions are only compatible with Linux-based hosts (although Windows VMs can still be used as guests), thus requiring the presence of Linux on server systems.
3. Proprietary on-prem virtualization
One other category of substitutes for Vmware is made up of proprietary virtualization platforms specifically designed for private infrastructure utilization. In the realm of enterprise-level virtual machine deployment, the top competitor in this category is Microsoft Hyper-V.
When it comes to features, both Vmware and Hyper-V have many similarities. In fact, among all the alternatives to Vmware, Hyper-V is possibly the closest to being a seamless replacement. However, there are a few distinctions that may pose challenges in transitioning from Vmware to Hyper-V, such as the fact that Hyper-V supports a slightly smaller range of operating systems compared to Vmware.
Essential Steps for Migrating From VMware
The process of migrating from Vmware will differ depending on the Vmware products being used and the destination platform. However, it is important to ensure that the following key steps are included in the migration process:
2. Safeguarding Vmware Virtual Machines and Associated Elements
Before starting the migration process, it is crucial to make backups of all virtual machines and their related resources, including virtual data storage, in Vmware. These backups serve as a safety net in case any issues arise during the migration.
One option for backing up Vmware virtual machines (VMs) is to take snapshots of them. Vmware also provides snapshotting capabilities for certain other products. However, when utilizing snapshots during a Vmware migration, it is important to remember the following guidelines:
It is recommended to disable any VMs before creating snapshots to ensure optimal results. Failure to do so may lead to complications when attempting to restore them in the future. Make sure that the virtual disk files for your snapshots, typically in the form of vmdk files, can be imported to the platform you will be migrating to.
Step 2. Preparing for Vmware Replacement
Firstly, ensure that your alternative Vmware environment is operational. If you are transitioning to a cloud-based environment, this process is simple as no installation is necessary. However, if you are utilizing an alternative such as KVM or Hyper-V, you must establish the necessary infrastructure to facilitate it and configure your virtualization software.
2. Relocate virtual machine images and data
The third step in your transition away from Vmware involves transferring data from your Vmware setup to the new environment. To streamline this task, it may be beneficial to mass copy your Vmware disk images to a storage volume in the new environment, rather than attempting to import them individually.
It is important to also transfer any extra resources, including data volumes that are not associated with virtual machines.
3. Transforming disk images
If the virtual machine (VM) platform that you are using does not have support for Vmware file types, it will be necessary to convert the disk images into a format that is compatible with the platform. One way to do this is by using tools like qemu-img, which can convert Vmware formats (such as vmdk) into images that can be used with open source hypervisors (such as qcow2) or Hyper-V (such as vhd).
4. Establish new virtual machines
Once you have prepared compatible disk images, you can commence the creation of new VMs to take the place of the ones that will be deactivated on your Vmware platform. It is possible to partially automate this procedure by utilizing migration tools or scripts that can automatically retrieve Vmware settings and generate new VMs using them.
Step 5: Adjust Environment Settings
To successfully migrate to a new hosting platform, it is essential to configure it according to your previous Vmware policies regarding networking, storage, security, and other aspects. While migration tools can assist in automating some tasks, it is likely that significant manual effort will be required to recreate a similar environment.
6: Direct traffic to your updated environment
After setting up your alternative Vmware environment, you can deactivate your old Vmware platform by rerouting traffic to the new virtual machines.
7. Discontinue Vmware
Once you have verified that your workloads can be managed by the new environment, you have the option to permanently shut down your Vmware resources.
Additional Aspects to Keep in Mind for a Smooth Transition from Vmware
Prior to concluding, it is crucial to address some additional factors that play a key role in carrying out a smooth migration process.
Other Factors to Consider for a Successful Migration From VMware
Before closing, let’s touch on a few additional points that are important for executing a successful migration.
Instead of completely transitioning away from Vmware, some companies may choose to relocate their Vmware workloads onto public cloud infrastructure as an alternative option. Specific Vmware tools, like Horizon, allow for this strategy to be implemented on select public cloud platforms.
The utilization of Vmware-licensed software would still remain, therefore this alteration does not completely alleviate any concerns regarding potential changes to Vmware products in the future. However, it does allow for the transfer of your workloads to the public cloud, bringing them closer to operating on the native platform of a cloud provider. This in turn simplifies the process of eventually migrating away from Vmware entirely, should you choose to do so.
Exploring Migration Tools
As previously stated, there are Vmware alternatives available that come with tools designed specifically for migrating workloads from Vmware platforms to a new environment. For instance, Hyper-V has a VM conversion wizard, while the Amazon cloud offers a migration service that automates some of the steps involved in converting an on-premises VM to a VM hosted on EC2.
Some alternatives to Vmware may not have a migration assistant. However, if your platform does have one, it can greatly simplify the migration process. It is important to note that not all migration tools may support all workloads or configurations, and they may also make errors. Therefore, it is likely that manual conversion work will still be necessary.
Upgrading your Vmware setup
When transitioning away from Vmware, one of the main obstacles you may encounter is the absence of alternative infrastructure to accommodate your new VMs. If your existing servers are dedicated to running Vmware-based tasks and cannot be turned off until the migration is finished, it becomes a dilemma of which servers to utilize for setting up a new environment.
To avoid the need for providing your own servers, a potential solution is to transition to the public cloud. If this is not an option, acquiring new servers may be necessary in order to successfully migrate.
When it comes to planning a migration away from Vmware, there is no straightforward answer. However, it is crucial to take this aspect into consideration.
A Substitute for Vmware: Containers
Shifting virtual machine (VM) dependent tasks to containers usually involves a considerable amount of effort as it entails modifying application structures and utilizing supplementary resources such as Kubernetes for container management, as discussed in this article on refactoring legacy code.
If you have workloads on Vmware that could benefit from a revamp, it may be worth considering a switch to containers instead of transferring them to a different VM hosting platform. By containerizing your applications, you unlock a range of possibilities for moving away from Vmware, such as migrating to a self-managed Kubernetes cluster or deploying containers in the cloud through services like Elastic Kubernetes Service or Azure Kubernetes Service.
